The School Zone Speed Camera Safety Program in St. Mary’s County was created to increase student safety around schools through automated speed enforcement. The implementation and use of the Speed Monitoring Systems are consistent with the requirements of Title 21, Subtitle 8 of the Transportation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Public notification of speed camera locations will be through the newspaper, St. Mary’s County Government website, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office website, and official St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and Instagram.
A School Zone is designated as the portion of roads within a half-mile radius of an accredited public, parochial, or private learning institution for one or more grades, kindergarten through 12.
Speed cameras operate year-round, including holidays and school breaks, Monday-Friday 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Speeding violations captured by automated cameras are civil violations subject to a fine, but no points are assessed to your driver's license, and they do not impact your automobile insurance. Failing to pay fines for speed camera violations may result in a flag being put on the vehicle’s registration and include additional costs, including administrative fees. Vehicle registrations cannot be renewed through the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration if you have outstanding fees.
A speeding violation occurs when a vehicle is traveling 12 miles per hour or more over the speed limit. The civil penalty for each violation is $40.
The current locations of school zone speed cameras are listed below; these locations will be updated periodically to support student and pedestrian safety.
- Greenview Knolls Elementary
- Loveville / Banneker Elementary
- Mechanicsville Elementary
- Oakville Elementary
- Spring Ridge Middle School
- Great Mills High School
To pay a speed camera citation:
Pay by WEB: www.zerofatality.com
Pay by PHONE: (888) 444-0288 to pay by credit / debit card 24/7. Between 10:00 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST), Monday - Friday a representative will assist you with a credit / debit card payment.
Pay by MAIL: Mail the return stub of the citation with a check or money order (NO CASH) payable to AUTOMATED ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, P.O. Box 593095, Orlando, FL 32859-3095.
To Request a Court Date for A Speed Camera Citation
You may request to appear in District Court by returning the completed form on the violation, at least five (5) days prior to the “Due Date” shown on the front of the notice and return it to the ASPE program – 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. If you appear in court, the maximum amount you will be charged is a $40 fine plus court costs. You will be notified by mail of the court date. If you do not receive a notice within 30 days, call the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 240-309-4217, ext. 2773.
If You Were Not The Driver - Transfer Of Liability For Speed Camera Citations
If you, the registered owner, were not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, in order to prove that you were not the driver, in addition to your testimony at trial, the law requires you to provide a letter to the District Court that states that the person named in the citation was not operating the vehicle at the time of the violation. You must request a hearing and send this letter after you have received your hearing notice. Please include the citation number and the case number (if different from the citation number). Please mark the envelope “TRANSFER OF LIABILITY.”
TO REQUEST THE PRESENCE OF THE SPEED MONITORING SYSTEM OPERATOR:
The speed monitoring system operator is not required to appear. If you want to request the speed monitoring system operator to be present and testify at the hearing, you are required to submit a separate request in writing no later than twenty (20) days before your scheduled hearing date. Please include the citation number on your request. Send this correspondence in an envelope marked "OPERATOR REQUEST" to: St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office C/O ASPE, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650.
STOLEN VEHICLE OR REGISTRATION PLATE:
The owner MUST provide a copy of the police report for the stolen vehicle or plates detailing that the vehicle or tag was stolen prior to the violation. You must request a hearing and present this evidence at the hearing in the District Court
REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATION:
Both the District Court and the Sheriff’s Office will make any reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. Requests should be directed to the appropriate agency prior to visiting the facility. 23110 Leonard Hall Drive, P.O. Box 1509, Leonardtown, MD 20650-5831 District Court, 301-880-2700 - TTY - MD Relay: 711
QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND REQUESTS TO REVIEW CITATIONS FOR TECHNICAL ERRORS:
Should be submitted in writing to the jurisdiction’s local designee prior to the deadline for contesting liability. Send your letter addressed to “Local Designee” to: SMCSO C/O ASPE, 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650, Phone: 240-309-4217 ext. 2773.
If you have questions about your citation, the validity of the citation, or need information on how to pay, please contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office at 240-309-4217, ext. 2773.
School Zone Speed Camera Safety Program
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Over the past ten years, there has been a nationwide spike in pedestrian fatalities due to a combination of speeding and distracted driving. Communities are turning to automated enforcement as a means of encouraging drivers to follow speed limits and pay attention.
Automated enforcement is endorsed as a safety tool by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, AAA, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the National Safety Council.
Starting August 21, 2026, St. Mary’s County will implement automated speed safety cameras to issue warnings for speeding in school zones. This law aims to reduce speeding and improve safety for children and youth traveling in school zones using automated enforcement technologies.
Violations will be issued when a vehicle exceeds the posted speed limit by 12 miles per hour or more. Cameras will operate from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The goals of St. Mary’s County include:
- Increasing the safety of children and staff in school zones by deterring speeding.
- Encouraging drivers to adhere to posted speed limits.
- Mitigating the risks associated with speeding in areas where children are present.
- Protecting law enforcement officers from the dangers of roadside traffic stops.
New, clearly visible signage will be installed at enforced locations to warn drivers that speeds are enforced by cameras.
The County will also provide a 15-day warning period during which drivers can become accustomed to the new signs. During this period, registered vehicle owners may receive warning notices in the mail. There is no fine associated with a warning notice.
After the 15-day warning period, enforceable violations will be issued to registered vehicle owners. The fine is $40.
Hours of enforcement are Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Warning notices are courtesy notices issued by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. Along with new, clearly visible signs, they inform drivers that automated speed enforcement is being used in school zones.
No further action is required if you receive a warning notice. All drivers are encouraged to obey speed laws at all times of the day.
Warning notices will be issued during the first 15 days at new enforcement sites. After that period, enforceable violations will be issued.
According to state law and the County ordinance, automated school zone citations are issued when a vehicle travels 12 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit.
The fine for an automated school zone speed violation is $40. Payment is due by the “Pay By” date listed on the citation.
Visit Zero Fatality (opens in a new tab) and enter your license plate number and the password located in the upper-right corner of your citation.
Through the website, you can:
- View photographs and video of the violation.
- View the date, time, and location of the violation.
- View the recorded speed of the vehicle.
- Make a payment.
- Request a court date.
- Request a dismissal.
The following payment options are available:
- Check or money order: Send a check or money order with the payment coupon located at the bottom of the citation to the address provided on the notice. The fine must be paid by the due date shown on the citation.
- Online: Visit Zero Fatality (opens in a new tab) to make an electronic payment.
- Phone: Call 888-444-0288 to make a payment by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You have the right to contest the citation. Due process is provided through District Court proceedings.
To contest a citation, complete the coupon located at the bottom of the citation and return it to the St. Mary’s County address listed on the coupon. The request must be submitted within 25 days of the citation’s due date. The District Court will notify you of your hearing date.
You may appeal the citation if you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the violation.
Return the coupon located at the bottom of the citation to the address listed on the coupon to request a District Court date. You will be notified of the court date by mail.
An appeal request must be filed no later than five days before the payment due date.
Automated school zone speed enforcement citations are civil offenses, not criminal traffic infractions. No points are assessed against your driving record for an automated enforcement violation.
The registered owner of the vehicle is cited for the violation. Failure to pay or appeal the citation may result in the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration refusing to register the vehicle or suspending the vehicle’s registration.
Speed enforcement locations are selected by St. Mary’s County based on crash, injury, fatality, and traffic-study data.
Contact the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office if you have concerns about a specific school zone.
Visit the School Zone Speed Camera Program page for information about the County ordinance and applicable state law.